LifeArcade!

Avenge Vulture Attack

w/ Toyships and First 2 Fire

Arch 635, Clapham North, 8^th September 2011

Ever since Debenhams went out of stock and I have had to purchase my carpets in Wales, London has not had the best of reputations recently. Therefore I must admit to being dubious when stepping out of the Tube station and onto the streets of Clapham North. Thankfully, the dust had well and truly settled and even formed a nice path into the Arch 635 bar. This path also led me to believe that London’s music scene is as bustling as ever, with new, up and coming venues developing all the time - this one being one of them.

Arch 635 is situated in the arches underneath the railway lines and produces a charming yet modern interior. The long bar provides some impressive artwork and leads towards the back room where this particular gig took place. It is quite a large space; however the idea of the stage being in the corner was not quite to my tastes. The sound was pretty good and no doubt benefited from the natural shape of the building. I would recommend this place to anyone planning on drinking or seeing a gig in the area. In such close proximity to the nearest Tube station, it perfect for the start or end of your evening.

Now, to the music. This review is a little strange for me as it actually covers two days. I first encountered Avenge Vulture Attack in Brighton for an interview. Then, two weeks later, we arrive in Clapham for a gig much closer to home. In the glamorous surroundings of a park bench in Brighton – just off the Queens Road - we talked about influences, festivals and the current state of the music scene in the UK.

LifeArcade! (LA!): Thank you for joining us today. Let’s get started. How does playing in Brighton compare to other towns and cities across the country?

Ella (Lead Singer): Well this is our second time playing here. It has a nice crowd, a younger crowd too.

Drew (Guitar): It has a very relaxed vibe about the place too. Maybe it’s because they are on the seafront…

Joss (Bass): …Everybody is very accepting. No one here just stands at the back of a venue with their arms crossed. Everyone is up and enjoying themselves which is always good to see.

LA!: So with the relaxed atmosphere that Brighton brings, is there pressure when you go to a larger city like London?

Ella: In London you can be playing to a crowd of other bands and musicians whereas here you are playing to a crowd who just love their music.

Ben (Drums): There is a slightly different attitude in London. With it being the city that it is, there is bigger sense of competitiveness as you go around it.

Drew: It is a lot less saturated outside of London definitely, which is nice. It just feels a lot fresher when you are playing in other places.

LA!: You have played festivals across the country. How do you find a festival crowd differs from the gig environment?

Joss: Festival crowds seem to be more open…

Drew: …and more drunk! But they know that they are not there to just see one band. They are there to see their favourites obviously, but it also allows them the opportunity to experience new music.

LA!: Where would you say is your dream venue to play?

Ella: Madison Square Garden would be a dream.

Ben: Wembley would be nice!

Joss: It would have been nice to play at the Astoria but alas, that is no more.

Ella: We get surprised, because you can show up a smaller pub or bar and they have an amazing energy to them. The more random ones can be the better venues.

Drew: Personally I would like to play at the Thekla in Bristol. Mainly because it is on a boat!

LA!: What do you put your sound down to? Do you have any particular influences and are there any bands you would love to play alongside?

Joss: That is a tricky one to answer as we all have very different, varied tastes. The music we produce is a fine, eclectic blend so to find a band that we can compare ourselves to is a hard thing to do.

Ben: Because we are all into different things, when we come together we have to make sure we like it, which is a nice problem to have when making music.

Drew: Since our tastes are different we have learnt to converge together. We have gone through various different sounds in the past to get to where we are now.

LA!: That’s good to have a varied mix of influences. Are there any bands that you could agree on that you would like to play with?

Joss: I think Incubus is one band that we would all agree we would love to play with. They are different every time they come out with something new.

Ella: It would be nice to stand back and just see them play and how they go about their performance.

Drew: The Distillers are also one that we would all like to perform with.

Ella: We would have to go back in time, but it would still be nice!

Ben: A lot of it is also about energy as well. When you look at a band like The Distillers they are pretty frantic on stage. We are very passionate about the energy a band can bring to the live setting.

LA!: So do you prefer the live stage compared to the studio?

Ella: I adore both. You get into a strange mindset in the studio because there is an element of having to get it right when you are in there.

Joss: I think we have different mindsets for both. In the studio we are perfectionists compared to playing live, where we are a bit more rough and ready.  

LA!: Playing around the country, how do you see the state of the music scene in the UK?

Ella: We have seen lots of great bands when we have travelled. Wherever we go there is always a good mix of music.

Drew: There is always going to be new, exciting music but there is also going to be stuff that is stale, so it comes down to how you choose to perceive it.

Joss: The different approaches are also interesting too. There are so many bands doing things in various ways. Not everyone’s first and sole intention is to get signed. They have their own ways of getting noticed and that is fascinating to see.

LA!: And finally, what does the future hold for Avenge Vulture Attack?

Joss: World domination and rock stardom.

Ella: We would like to record again before venturing further out with our touring.

Drew: We want to tour more. Europe is on the agenda, coming from the UK it is important for us to get heard out there. It is strange that there seems to be a cultural thing where they embrace a lot of UK music so it would be good to explore that.

Ben: Touring is a roundabout way of getting heard and increasing our exposure. At the point we are at it is something we have to do.

Drew: We will be writing some new songs too, which is always a fun experience.

Joss: At the end of the day this is what we want to do. We want this to be our job and this is what we have to do to achieve that.

Ella: I would like to do another, longer EP and take it step by step in that sense, to head towards an album in the future.

After being interviewed myself, we skip forward two weeks and I am now sat in the back room of Arch 635, lager in hand, enjoying some good live music. The first band I came across this evening was Toyships. I did not see much of them unfortunately but what I did see was impressive. Their cover of ‘Wonderwall’ went down very well and did not feel like a forced, awkward cover either. Their gritty rock sound suited the song well and it flowed to the point that you could sing along without losing touch in the tweaks they made to it.

Next up were First 2 Fire. This band produced a solid display, mixing heavy rock with a calmer melody to good effect. This was reflected in the set list and they managed to balance it well. They got a good reaction from the crowd and had people on their feet at the back of the room. The voice of the lead singer was well suited to this type of music and you could clearly see influences from such bands as Rise Against and Atreyu. Not bad bands to be influenced by at all. Their 25 minute set was enjoyable and the tempo did not allow you stray from their attention. One criticism I would make is that they were a bit static on stage. However this did not detract from the set and overall they put on an entertaining slot.

The headliners of the night were of course our featured band Avenge Vulture Attack. Having felt like a groupie the last couple of weeks I was on the edge of my seat as they began their set. And I was not disappointed. The sheer energy of this band could have powered the venue, as well as the train lines above us, as they burst into their first song with the enthusiasm that makes you feel that they treat each gig as their last. Their stage presence was the strongest of the night by far with each band member’s individuality shining through to create a lively and energetic visual experience. Their previous statements about The Distillers were certainly ringing true.

The lead singer led by example. Her loud vocals were effeminate and strong as was her presence on stage. She was commanding and brought the audience into the performance rather than simply performing at them. This exuberance was echoed by the rest of the band. The bass was prominent which is always nice to see and hear. Sometimes the bass can be lost in a live environment – but not here. Though not in the same genre there were comparisons I felt between himself and Rob Trujillo, in the performance aspect certainly but also in the style of play and the ability to get the best out of the bass. The guitar was also impressive and varied well between technical and more rhythm based play. It sounded similar to the sound The White Stripes create when they are in the rhythm section of a song. The drumming also stood out for me. Once more I am perhaps being bias as I play them now and again myself, but the pace was always on point and the transition from standard beat to solo-esque playing was spot on. The constant fast pace of the drums was also impressive from an audience standpoint - Keeping up that tempo throughout left me flabbergasted.

I had to agree with what they said in our interview in Brighton. It is very hard to pin point a direct comparison with any other band, such was the variation in sound. For every arch in the room, you could fill it with a different genre that would just come out at you at any given moment. As I left Arch 635 this night, with my ears humming for the first time in a long time, I certainly felt like I got my fix of pure energy and good old fashioned rock music – with an eclectic twist.

With more touring coming up and another potential EP in the future, there is no reason that a few years down the line, north west London will be hearing another ‘Hello Wembley!’ bellowing from its famous stage.

Check out Avenge Vulture Attack at www.myspace.com/avengevultureattack and www.facebook.com/avengevultureattack for music and upcoming tour dates.

Words by William Evans

Intraverse

w/ Origami Dinosaur

The Forum, Tunbridge Wells, 15^th July 2011

In my time going to gigs around the country I have been to a variety of different venues, established venues, stadiums, festivals, pubs and clubs. But never in my time have I arrived at a location which used to be a public toilet. Never. Until tonight that is.

The Tunbridge Wells Forum is a surprisingly spacious room, with a decent stage area as well as having a good sound. Its location on the Green makes it easy to find, which is handy when you are heading into the unknown by yourself on a Friday night. I am here to see Intraverse. This is the night of their new single launch ‘Grant me Permission’. I shall get to the music momentarily, but before the set I caught up with two members of the band, Mikey (bass) and Tim (drums) to talk about live music, touring and the expectations of the new single.

LifeArcade! (LA!): Thank you for taking the time out to join us. Let’s get started. How does it feel coming back to a local gig? Is it good to have the local support behind you, especially for a single launch?

Mikey: Well this is actually the first single launch we have done in our home town. For the previous single we didn’t really organise a specific gig to release it, but it is nice to have a good vibe about tonight. As for the local support we have a fantastic following. But it is not just that, we recently played Download and there are people here tonight who have come down from the Midlands to see us play, which is pretty incredible.

LA!: As you say, you have recently played Download Festival. What is it like playing to a crowd that you have to win over in a sense? Is there any pressure there or do you thrive in that environment?

Tim: You do thrive on it, but you also do feel a little bit of pressure because it is new people and it is also the traveling up there – it is not just down the road. But it is exciting because it is a test, as you have the music that you like and play, and you are playing to a crowd that are the judge, aren’t they? So it is whether they choose to accept it and it was good for us because they were accepting it. I think we took a bit of a risk; we were on the acoustic stage and we started our set by clicking our fingers, then bringing in the guitar as we let the song build. Some people may have found that stupid as you are at a heavy festival, but we did our thing and it went down really well. It also helps that we have some more up tempo tunes. Our acoustic stuff is quite lively as well so that helped to build through the set also.

LA!: So you were almost leading the crowd into a false sense of security with the clicking fingers?

Mikey: Yeah, the front man (Max) made a bit of a joke about it saying “I bet this is the first set you’ve seen beginning with clicks”, but they really enjoyed that.

Tim: You could look out at the crowd who were all there for 12.30 and see these heavy metal fans, and they were enjoying it.

LA!: Tonight you are in Tunbridge Wells, but what is your favourite place to play outside of Kent, and how is your response on the road?

Mikey: Personally I like playing in Brighton because of the relaxed vibe they have down there. We also enjoy playing in London. It helps that they are both relatively close to home.

Tim: I don’t want to sound big headed but we haven’t really got any bad reactions anywhere we have played. But it is difficult to say; wherever we have gone we have got good press. We just go out and play our music and hope the people enjoy it as much as we do. That’s the bottom line.

Mikey: We must be doing something right!

LA!: When you are playing festivals, what is it like from a band’s perspective compared to a smaller venue such as The Forum?

Mikey: I don’t feel the pressure of it. We have been playing for a long time now and it is just something that we do. We relish the opportunities to play the festivals, but also the smaller ones are just as good. There is a different atmosphere with the closeness, which is great. You can literally see the expressions on peoples’ faces which gives you a good buzz when you see them smiling at you and enjoying themselves. We just try to go out there and enjoy it. It’s just fortunate that people seem to take to it.

LA!: Your last single ‘Please Don’t Share Your Kisses’ reached No.4 in the iTunes chart. What are the expectations for the new single? It is a bit of a different sound from previous tracks.

Mikey: Personally I have no expectations. Obviously we hope it does well, but we are putting it out there because we feel it is the right song to put out there, and as Tim said earlier, the audience will be the judge and we will soon know if we have come up with something that they either like or they don’t.

Tim: I don’t think we actually write to a formula. We just write tracks that we enjoy, so I don’t think that you will hear another ‘Please Don’t Share Your Kisses’- esque song; I don’t think we are that sort of band. I do not think we would ever write an album that included the same formula and similar tracks throughout, so in that respect it is a risk.

Mikey: We just want to be true to ourselves. We are too creative as a band to just stick to a routine formula. In doing this we feel that we are not ‘selling out’ as it were, because we are not rigid in our approach to making music. It is a risk we have to take.

With the sound of the music pumping from within The Forum, we headed back inside where the first band of the night was underway. Origami Dinosaur are far from prehistoric with their music, with elements of funk and rock fused into an upbeat and catchy sound which gets the crowd head bopping from the off. The guitar work stands out in the same way ‘guitar’ bands such as The Strokes or Artic Monkeys make it pivotal to their noise. The air plectrum was strumming against the thigh throughout this set. The bass was also impressive and had aspects of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Gossip and London-based band The Skints during the songs as well as in the solos, a nice touch when some bands lose the sound of the bass in a live setting. The drums were very good and kept a very good rhythm during the set, they also did not get too overcomplicated during the faster moments, which was refreshing to see. The lead singer did his job as the front man exceptionally well. He was full of charisma and had the audience in the palm of his hand during the entire set. On a bigger stage, he could quite comfortably fill the space with his stand out swagger and strong voice. A great start to proceedings and a perfect build up into the headline act.

With the crowd replenished at the bar, Intraverse hit the stage and instantly you know this was a homecoming gig. The response from the crowd is impressive as the band kick off their set to the arrival of balloons from above. Nothing says party like falling balloons, a nice touch that sets the tone for the rest of the set. This is a celebration of the bands recent success as well as new single release, and both the crowd and the band appreciate this.

It is hard to put down a comparison to Intraverse as their sound is quite unique. The band say that their influences are, “whatever that is floating our boat at the time” and that is clear both live as well as recorded. There are hints of metal, electro and even jazz that makes this band so interesting to watch and listen to. The front man Max, despite nursing a sore throat, shows a strong and powerful voice, reaching notes that make you question any illness. His voice compliments the eclectic mix of influences well and holds it all together nicely. His stage presence is also strong, making direct contact with the crowd, bringing further intimacy to an already close gig. The guitar work during the set was wonderful to hear, bringing notions of Muse and System of a Down to the fore - a combination that I certainly cannot complain about. It sometimes felt that the music was coming from all directions and definitely helped me, and the rest of the audience, into the music. The bass was funky and drew comparisons similar to those of Origami Dinosaur, but there is also a hint of The Flecktones, a band Intraverse have said they would like to play with. The drums blended well with the rest of the music and could range from heavy, hard-hitting to calmer rhythmic beats.

The set list was strong and varied, even including a bongo led instrumental which slotted in smoothly. Funk fused with jazz coexisted with more heavy metal influenced tracks. The highlight of the night of course had to be the new single, ‘Grant me Permission’. A very catchy track which even had me singing along after one verse and chorus - or trying to at least. All their influences come into effect in this track with Muse sounding guitar working alongside heavier riffs and drums. If their last single reached No.4, there is no reason why this cannot top that feat. It was well accepted by the audience and in a live setting, felt even more powerful and atmospheric than on record. Writing catchy songs seems to come naturally to this Kent fivesome. I asked Intraverse what the future holds now the single is officially out there, their answer being: “We would hopefully like to surpass the last singles achievements. We plan on touring in the autumn and we are hopeful of a debut album being released in the spring of 2012.”

As the gig drew to a close and the encore was requested and delivered, the audience eventually dispersed and headed in their respective directions, very happy in the knowledge that they witnessed a great gig with two bands of a very high caliber. Money on a ticket to the gig and a trip to Kent was certainly money well spent.

I had one more question for the band – How do you see the current state of live music in this country? Intraverse simply answered, “It’s Thriving”.

It is hard to disagree.

With thanks to Neil Hayes of Black & White Music

Intraverse’s new single ‘Grant me Permission’ is available to download now. Check out www.intraverse.com for upcoming tour dates and information.

Words by William Evans

How do you review a show you have been told not to tell anyone about? It is a difficult starting point I must admit, and a tricky one to get your head around. Pretty much like the entire set I witnessed on a warm breezy night in London’s West End.

Derren Brown’s ‘Svengali’ is an exuberant mix of playful tomfoolery and dark, sinister twists and turns. From the opening sequence explaining the supposed history that the show is based on and the subsequent first segment, you know that your emotions are going to be tugged in all sorts of directions throughout the performance. After the playfulness - involving shoes, paint and embarrassing moments - of the first half we are left at the interval feeling relaxed, yet with the same question you ask yourself at all of these shows, ‘How did he do that?’

The second half begins and almost takes you by surprise. You know that something darker is afoot but it just comes out and grabs you – and thus begins the highlight of the show. We are reminded of the story we were told at the start of the show, and the figure that accompanies Brown on stage at this moment is just completely creepy. An automaton – a mechanical doll capable of apparently reading our minds – is revealed and looks like he could be Chucky from Play School’s commander at base. What follows is some of the most spine tingling spectacles I have seen on stage. Maybe this is because I have not been to a show like this before, maybe it is because my biggest phobia was dealt with, and it may have even been the circulation to my back decreasing in the cramped balcony seating. It had one of those moments where you want to look away, but you really cannot. It was a truly clever mix of the supernatural, suggestion and illusion that Brown is so renowned for. It is just a shame that this part of the show did not go on for longer.

Out of the darkness came the light once more as the show picked up a bit of pace with the more relaxing tone that had begun to emerge. There was yet more memory work as well as fitting ending with numerous balloons, play bricks, paper throwing and a healthy dose of mathematics. That last one may not seem like much fun but the result leaves you gasping and wanting more. Once Brown has shown off his more physical side, the end is nigh and the applause is taken with his final shock reveal.

Svengali may not be Derren Brown’s best ever show, but for a newcomer such as me, it was certainly an enjoyable experience. When the show leaves London and continues into 2012, I certainly recommend seeing it.

By then I will still be trying to figure out how it was all done.

****/*****

William Evans

Derren Brown’s ‘Svengali’ runs at the Shaftesbury Theatre until 16^th July. The next available dates so far begin in February 2012

A day at the races, without a horse or jockey in sight. Actually that is a lie. There were a few scattered around – the only difference between this and Royal Ascot is that the jockey’s were doing all the work; inside the horses. Some people call these events ‘fun runs’. Whoever coined that phrase is a sick human being. Do not get me wrong, I know this is not a marathon, but it certainly felt like one to this beer drinking, smoking gymaphobe. I spend most of my time in front of a computer screen for goodness sake.

Despite arriving late to the biggest 10km run in the country I was not turned away and made my way to the start, joining the back of the queue. When I say back of the queue I literally mean ‘back of the queue’! By the time the race began and over half the runners taking part ran past me on the other side, I was surrounded by no more than 30 stragglers, all wondering why they did not just take a diversion to the nearest pub. Slowly but surely we arrived at the start line, just as some of the professional athletes would have been finishing – that thought still staggers me.

Knowing that I had the best part of 24,999 people to overtake, I sped through the first kilometre. When I say sped, what I really mean is I struggled up a slight incline whilst being overtaken by pensioners and people dressed as bananas. Of course once I was going downhill they were all left in my dust and I even had time to pose for my mum and brother as they looked on in admiration. As I entered the second and third stages of the run, I jogged past Trafalgar Square and down on to the Embankment, both looking glorious in the gathering morning sun. Still having not resorted to walking and avoiding crossing pedestrians, I ventured along the Thames up to Blackfriars Bridge. The sun and the heat were already beginning to take their toll on some of the runners as the water stations were still in the horizon. I began to notice people who had started ahead of me and my confidence grew, my target time of one hour was back in my mind and I was going to do it. That was until I actually arrived at the water station. Instead of jogging by and grabbing a bottle as per the usual, I had to wait in a scrum as the bottles were forcibly ripped from the plastic by volunteers and runners alike. Terrifying. Luckily I managed to retrieve one and I was on my way once more.

A great part of these runs is the crowd. It does not matter if you are running for their charity or not, they will support you and give you encouragement as you go round the course. Though I must say I was not fond of the ‘find your feet’ signs. The crowds support and the metal in my ipod were not enough for me however. As I entered the Blackfriars Underpass and the four kilometre stage I had to slow down and take a walk. The coolness of the shade and what was left of my water was a welcome rest bite from the ever increasing heat. But I knew I could not keep this up. I had to run again. It was like something out of a sports drama as I took a deep breath and burst out into the blazing sun – and into the queue for the toilets. After about 40 seconds I realised this was a waste of time as the queue was not moving. I thought to myself that the filling of my bladder could spur me on to the finish in record time. I powered on, back under the bypass and the bridge and back along the Thames. Five kilometres down – halfway there.

Running along the Thames with Parliament in the distance and the South Bank and London Eye on the other side was a highlight of the run, as it was the last time I did it in 2009. The wind was blowing and I felt as though I was going to get a second wind. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing straight towards me, slowing us all down. And instead of cooling us from the sun, it was spreading the rays all over us. I must have looked like a six foot beetroot by the end. Once again there was more jostling for water, with me having to resort to getting one from the helpful hand of a football rival. I think he was as shocked as I was. I did not let this shock distract me though. I was heading towards the last few kilometres, in which I was having a rather compelling race between Syrian protestors, Tibet Protestors, Egyptians and the army. I cannot remember how this particular battle ended, but I like to think I was on the winning side. After all, I was not carrying flags or heavy bags.

Westminster Bridge was in sight. And what a sight it was. Knowing that there was only two kilometres to go I refused to stop and kept jogging right to the end. Seeing my first casualty being looked after by St. John Ambulance only spurred me on, mainly to get away from the ambulance, but because I was starting to get lightheaded and needed more fluids – most of my last bottle of water went towards showering myself. Leaving the bridge I turned into Parliament Square, with Bill Bailey’s song 'Midnight in Parliament Square' going through my head as I passed the war protestor camp site. To my right was the finish – it looked glorious, and so close. Yet these things always find a way of biting you in the nether regions. Myself and the rest of the runners are first directed left, away from the finish, to be faced with an almightily frustrating u-turn. But while this is an annoyance, when you finally start running back towards the finish and turn into Whitehall, with the finish in site past the Cenotaph, the feeling is spectacular.

That last 100 metres I pulled it all out of the bag and sprinted to the finish line. Runner after runner was left in my wake as I sped past the finishing line with a shout of joy and a fist pump of relief. It was over. The headphones came out and I took in the atmosphere of the day. It was a great day for it. The only downer was me being late and not being able to run with my friend. That was very disappointing and my plans to catch up were thwarted by the sheer number of people and time it took to actually start the race. A catch up and a drink in Kings Cross was a nice way to end the day though. Once I had found my family after an hour at the finish.

A great day, a great experience, and all for a very good cause.

William Evans - 1:11:39

I was running for the Do It For Don Fund. For more information and to donate, please go to www.doit4don.com

Bad Teacher (Kasdan, 2011) is the latest in a line of 'Bad...' films. Bad Santa, Bad Boys 1 and 2, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly - It is in some pretty good, varied company. But does it stand up to them? Is Bad Teacher a story of resentment and lust, ending in redemption and love, with likeable characters, a solid story and a fitting message?

Unfortunately not.

Cameron Diaz is Elizabeth Halsey. A teacher who, funnily enough, is not very good at her job. She is also a pretty horrible human being - superficial, self indulgent, drug using, gold digging and not a good bone in her body - Louanne Johnson from Dangerous Minds she most certainly is not. After her fiance realises that his money is being taken for granted a tad later than most people with a decent IQ, she is forced back into her work as a teacher at a Junior High School.What follows is a year of bickering, competition, sexual advances and aspirations of breast implants.

Some good ingredients there for consistent comedy you would think? Well, kind of. The limitations on the characters certainly does not help matters. Because Halsey is so horrible, there is rarely room for compassion or signs of vulnerability. There appears to have been a brick wall built around her that no one can break down. Even the later scenes with Jason Segel as the laid back gym teacher seem added on at the last minute to at least show a glimpse of positive emotion.

Sometimes it feels that the rest of the film is just there to pad out the funnier scenes. The first conversation in the restaurant between Halsey and the wonderful Lynn Davies (Phyllis Smith) is one particular highlight, as is the band night scene - particularly the dialogue between Diaz, Smith and Segel. Two other characters in this scene highlight however both the positives and negatives of the film.

Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake) is a confusing character and because of this is not likeable. Are we supposed to fall for his charm and kindness? Are we meant to accept his failings? He is a rich substitute teacher who instantly draws the attention of Halsey, yet she discovers that he apparently only likes large breasted women. Is this the sign of a nice, sensitive approachable guy? We all have our preferences but his whole character is all over the place. One minute he is kind, singing over emotional songs. The next he is cheating on his girlfriend (in the most cringe worthy 'sex' scene ever put to screen) and admitting his lack of trustworthiness. He actually comes across as quite pathetic, and is more annoying than the lack of any interesting school children. Very disappointing, especially after Timberlake's performance in The Social Network. I did not see the need for this character as Segel's gym teacher, Russell Gettis could have fitted the role. He is much more likeable. He is honest about himself, is warm and is genuinely funny.

But from one disappointing character to arguably the highlight of the film. Lucy Punchs' Amy Squirrel is the best teacher in the school, winning the bonus every year. Her overtly happy and kind approach is the perfect yin to Halsey's yang. Of course as the film progresses we learn there are more layers to her, and this can only be a good thing. Three dimensional characters are rare in this film so to see one of the main protagonists (or is that antagonists?) have more to them is a sigh of relief when she is on screen. She even manages to get a reaction from the seemingly heavily sedated schoolchildren. Her sheer determination to outdo and show Halsey for what she really is, is entertaining and comical. Again, if she had more of a relationship with Gettis as opposed to Delacorte, we have had a much more entertaining film.

This leads me quite nicely to the plot. It is OK. Nothing groundbreaking or Earth shattering but it helps the film along nicely enough. Upon hearing about Delacorte's female preferences she decides to save and steal the money necessary for breast implants. This leads to a visually pleasing car wash scene that puts Jessica Simpson to shame and also helps her bag a few dollars. She also discovers the end of year bonus which leads to a change in attitude where we learn she can actually teach. I would not trust her with a wig, bottle of white wine or a camera though.

The ending of the film is possibly the most disappointing aspect of it. It just feels tagged on at the last minute, hoping to give us the happy ending that we apparently crave and tries to suddenly make us feel for this selfish, obnoxious and guilt free Miss Halsey. The thing is throughout the final few minutes she is still all of these things. And that is what makes it feel rushed. There was no time in the second act to start developing any frailties she may have. Cameron Diaz was the right actress for this role and to see her as a antagonist is a rare delight. She should definitely attempt it more. I just feel that the character she was given to work with was nowhere near deep enough and complex for her to really make her own. With Billy Bob Thornton's Bad Santa you felt sympathy for the hole his character was getting into. He had layers that could be peeled away. Diazs' Bad Teacher did not.

For what it is, and what it could have been, Bad Teacher unfortunately falls short. Entertaining to an extent, but maybe best to wait for the DVD rental release - 6.47/10

Next time I will be reviewing the recently released American comedy 'Bridesmaids'.

I hope you have enjoyed. Until the next time.

William Evans

http://will-writersblog.blogspot.com/

@willsfilmgig

@lifearcademag

The credit crunch is coming to influence every single sphere of our lives. Utility bills are up, taxes are rising to cover national debts and even the humble 99 flake will now requires a down payment of 75p upon order, just in case you become insolvent in the time it takes to make and flake it.

But perhaps the game that has been hit hardest by these turbulent times is Risk. Reflecting as it does the international nature of the financial meltdown, this once much loved parlour game has fallen into disrepair as players roll the dice to see if they have enough money to move their armies beyond their borders, only to find them ill-equipped, demotivated and suffering from battle fatigue. Ultimately it just becomes a bitter war of attrition to stop your own pieces revolting against you and plunging your already pitiful empire into civil war. Roll anything less than a three and you’re Ceausescued, whilst anything between a four and a nine means that your power relies solely on intimidation by your secret police. Your only hope is to keep rolling double figures and gently spread your tendrils of doom into surrounding territories until you finally grind out a miserable North Korea-style one-party state over the entire face of the earth. If you’re losing the only real tactic is to hope for a natural disaster (luckily, this being a board game, tectonic activity is fairly easy to simulate by just picking it up, as is attack by a radioactive monster if you own a pet.) 

Right, I’m now off to play Cluedo to see if it’s possible to murder a rural vicar armed with nothing more than a giro book and some broken NHS spectacles.

Written by Ben Van der Velde for LifeArcade!

24th June 2011

Twitter: @benvandervelde

Web: www.benvandervelde.com

The Foo Fighters just released their latest album ‘Wasting Light’, are about to embark on a headline tour of the UK after an absence of 3 years and also just released their own documentary ‘Back and Forth’.

Back and Forth is a funny, informative, sad, exciting and intriguing documentary detailing the ups and downs of the Foos. Including interviews from band members (past and present), photos and live footage this documentary has everything a music fan could want. You get a real insight into Dave Grohl’s life after Nirvana and how the Foo Fighters came to be his new lease of life after the death of band mate and friend Kurt Cobain.

Grohl explains how he was criticised for his first Foos record (which he recorded entirely on his own) as it was heavy and sounded like Nirvana music, he explains how people kept asking him why he didn’t do something different, with which he responds:

“What did you think I was going to do? Make a fucking reggae record?”

This statement sums up everything there is to like about the man, straight to the point and a true rock musician. As you see the turbulent ups and downs the Foo Fighters went through; the line up changes, the drug overdoses and the constant bickering; it makes you realise that these guys aren’t just rock gods, they are human. How they fail under the pressures of real life and how they struggle to keep control in one of the most pressured industred on the planet. Unfortunately there are some casualties, namely original drummer William Goldsmith who was maybe not cut out for working with one of (arguably) the best drummers of our time, Dave.

As we near the end of the documentary we are lucky enough to see into the world of Dave as we enter his family home for the recording of Wasting Light. This is truly joyous to watch as each Foo Fighter brings their own family along; you see BBQs, playing by the pool and normal family life no different to that of anyone else. However, when these guys hit the studio, they rock. They rock hard.

This is a great watch and a must buy for any Foo Fighters fan. Any music fan even. A real insight into the life of Dave Grohl and the Foos is just what the doctor ordered. You can thank us later!

Stars of the Search Party

w/ You Ate my Dog and Piper Saint

Silver Bullet, London, 14^th June 2011

LifeArcade! were at the Silver Bullet in Finsbury Park recently to catch up with Stars of the Search Party, building up to the release of their new single ‘Colours’, (released 21^st June). With this being the last night of their tour, we also took the opportunity to review their energetic live show. Before the gig began, we ventured north - away from the venue and into the quieter confines of the band’s tour bus, where buses, road rage and ‘Boris Biker’s’ would be of no concern to us all. After noting the comparative ease of chatting in a tour bus, compared to toilets, Steve (Guitar and Backing Vocals), Russ (Guitar) and Artit (Vocals) were ready to begin.

LifeArcade! (LA!): Thank you for joining us this evening, first things first, how did you get started?

Steve: Well we were 17 when myself and Russ first wanted to start a band, but it was a tricky starting point and there have been a few line-up changes. But now we are all 23 and have been in this line-up and going professionally for around 2 years. The most recent addition has been Artit who joined in September…

Artit: Let’s hope they made the right decision!

Russ: Through the times of the line-up changes, it did actually allow us to tighten up as a band ironically. When it came to having the solid band members, that we have now, we felt more professional going into these gigs, as we had been working for so long on the music.

LA!: So Artit, have the band been welcoming to you as the newcomer? Did you all know each other beforehand?

Artit: Yeah they’ve been great. We didn’t know each other exactly. Rob (Bassist) lived with someone in my class who recommended me to them…

Russ: We checked out his stuff on YouTube and were pretty impressed so invited him down for an audition. There was one other guy but as soon as we heard Artit’s voice we were sold.

LA!: Who are your main influences as a band?

Steve: We’re all different really. I do a lot of the main writing and I am personally influenced by bands like Funeral for a Friend, Emery and Underoath. I do also like the breakdowns you get from more Punk orientated bands like A Day to Remember. It’s nice to be able to blend it all in.

LA!: You mention bands like A Day to Remember and Funeral For a Friend, If you had the chance to appear with a band, past or present, who would it be?

Steve: Go West…

Russ: (Laughs). Jack (Sanderson, Booking Agent) would love that.

Russ: Realistically…

Artit: ...Funeral For a Friend would be great…

Steve: …and it’s possible! They’re a band me and Russ have been listening to for a long time, since their early stuff, so that would be great.

Russ: Emery as well would be amazing.

Artit: Four Years Strong would be good too.

LA!: Speaking of Funeral For a Friend, they toured with Iron Maiden not so long ago and had a mixed reaction from the Maiden fans. Is touring with a different genre of band something you would consider?

Steve: Honestly, we would and we have done in the past. Opportunities like that do not come around very often.

Russ: We got offered a show with Mammal, an Australian band who had already sold out the gigs. After listening to them I was a bit concerned and asked the band if we still wanted to do it. They have a Rage Against the Machine type vibe to them and I was convinced their fans would not like us at all. But after chatting with Mammal we went out there and it was probably one of the best shows we’ve ever played and the fans loved us. Since then we’ve learnt not to judge and to just take opportunities that come our way.

Steve: We might draw the line if they offered ABBA though.

Artit: Before this tour we were generally the heaviest band on the tours we have played.

Russ: Because we are that kind of bridge between heavy and pop we are able to translate across different fans and bands when touring.

LA!: You mention pop there. Do you mind being labeled with that tag, as some bands try to avoid being put in that category?

Russ: I think it’s good definitely, as you can expand to a different fan base every time you play a show. There’s nothing wrong with it.

LA!: We’ve talked about musical influences, do you see a band live and think ‘why don’t we do that?’ or ‘that’s cool, lets put that in our show’?

Steve: Well when we first started doing shows we were very static on stage. Each of us now just does our own thing on stage. We have never been a band to choreograph moves and say, ‘Right! Lets headbang at this point and all break our necks’. As we have progressed as a band, we have individually also changed.

Russ: I wouldn’t say we look the coolest.

Steve: We can look at other bands and say ‘yeah that’s a great show’ but we wouldn’t then take any parts from it. What works for one band would probably make us look like idiots if we tried it! We just stick to how we go.

LA!: You were inSwansealast night. How have you found your fan base has developed over time? Do you have fans from abroad saying they love your work?

Russ: Well word of mouth has played its part obviously. But a lot of it has just come from touring new cities that we haven’t played before. You do these shows and maybe two people will be there that like you. Then the next time you play there they’ll bring their friends and it kind of develops from there. Online tools also play a massive part.

Steve: Absolutely. That’s the best thing really. You can go and play somewhere on the other side of the world, and still keep in touch with those people everyday. That’s the most important thing to us. We like to keep in touch with our fans via Facebook, even if it is just complete crap about ‘Coach Trip’. We like to keep that personal touch with our fans, it helps us keep our feet on the ground as it were.

Russ: I just enjoy the social side of it as well. Also, me and Steve have been best mates since we were 13 and we would go to all these gigs and we remember when these bands would come and talk to us and it makes your day. We like to do that for our fans

LA!: Your new single ‘Colours’ is out on the 21^st June. Excited? How has the initial feedback been?

Steve: Very excited yeah. We put the video up about 10 days ago and it was received brilliantly. It actually exceeded our expectations. Initially we wanted to get around a thousand plays in a week, which we would have been happy with – within 4 days we had 3,000 plays, which was ridiculous! Our regular fans have all come out and supported it which is nice to see. But on the YouTube channel we have been getting new subscribers all the time. People have been asking why everyone has been posting about it, then they see it and go ‘oh now I see why!’ which is really nice to see.

LA!: So do you feel a certain amount of pressure to accommodate to your fans?

Steve: Not really no. I think we just go out there and do it.

Russ: I think we have shown the opposite of that in a way. When he had our previous vocalist we were a lot heavier and the fans liked that. We were worried that our core fan base would not enjoy the vocal change, but I think it has turned out that we now have a stronger fan base since Artit’s arrival. We are now definitely a lot more accessible, don’t get me wrong we did lose a couple of fans, but on the whole we are a lot stronger in terms of support and music. It shows that development in your sound can work and you’ve just got to go for it.

LA!: Just a couple of final questions. What do you do after a show? Do you have a few drinks, party or are you just pretty chilled out?

Russ: We’re pretty chilled out really. We hang out with the other bands then start driving in the general direction of the town and venue really. I tried doing the whole party thing when we first started out, but it soon takes it out of you when you’ve got a show the next day. But I’ve learnt through these experiences to be a lot more professional, and in doing so we have never missed a show…

Steve: …Or been arrested. 

LA!: OK guys just one last question that I can imagine you and other bands get all the time so I apologise in advance – Why the name?

Russ: (Laughs) Steve gives a different answer to this every time!...

Steve: …It’s a metaphor. Everyone looks out for the stars in the night sky. When you can’t find them, you call out the search party. And the leaders of the search party, looking for the stars? Stars of the Search Party. That and we didn’t want a clichéd name with words like ‘black’, ‘death’ or ‘stars’. Then I thought ‘oh, Stars of the Search Party’. That sounds pretty cool. So essentially we went against our thought process. Speak to Guilford Hospital Radio for the other official explanations!

Interview over, we ventured back south, towards the Silver Bullet. A small, intimate venue with surprisingly good sound that stands out over the road fromFinsburyParkstation, with its bright artwork (unfortunately hidden by scaffolding).

The first band I see tonight is Piper Saint. A London four-piece with a great, unique sound, partly - but not completely - inspired by their female lead singer. The mix of melodic harmonies and loud aggressive angst are neatly tied together in this short but eye-catching set. The banter between songs was fun and kept the audience interested, as well as not detracting from the flow of the set. If you are a fan of Taking Back Sunday or Jimmy Eat World you will like Piper Saint. Certainly one to look out for in the future.

The joint headliners of the night are the confusingly named Swedish band You Ate my Dog (nope, we don’t know why either!). This Stockholm six-piece arrived on stage to a big response and proceed to scream, sing and jump through their 25 minute set. They seem to cover all the bases with hints of pop and rock blended in with punk and hardcore. Luckily for them it does not turn into mush and actually provides quite an interesting sound with recollections of Panic!, Blink 182 and Brand New forming to provide some catchy tunes. They kept the crowd busy too with token sing-alongs, clapping and between song banter which really helped the positive mood of the set. Really good live band that are definitely worth a look, whether you’re inLondonorStockholm.

Once You Ate my Dog were finished, it was time for the headline act. Stars of the Search Party arrive onstage with the challenge of keeping up the tempo left behind by the previous band’s performance. And they achieve this comfortably. From the first note, the tempo is high and the crowd is into it. Like Piper Saint, they have a great mix of calming harmonies as well as the screaming you would associate with more hardcore bands. The influences they stated in our interview are clear to see and hear, and I couldn’t help but notice a hint of Incubus and Lost Prophets in their guitar solos and rhythm – which is no bad thing. One problem a lot of bands have is the transition from the studio to a live environment. Luckily for Stars of the Search Party they do not have this problem as their music is clear, the audience participation is there and their early days of static performances are well and truly behind them.

Stars of the Search Party were a fitting end to a great night of live music and are certainly worth checking out if they are playing in your area. Band of the night and with their new single coming out soon, the only way is up for this Surrey based band. 

With thanks to Jack Sanderson of Buskers Hat Management

Stars of the Search Party’s new single ‘Colours’ is available from 21^st June via Digital Download on iTunes. They are next playing in London on the 23^rd June at O2 Academy 2, Islington

Words by William Evans

It is not everyday that you get to report on the goings on of a film set. But that is exactly what I am able to do in this report, as I was lucky enough recently to be the Script Supervisor on the upcoming short film CottonMouth.

Based and filmed in the North of England, this film brings you along on the journey of a stand-up comedian down on his luck, waiting for that one glorious moment where everything goes right. What will it take him to get to that point? Well, you shall just have to wait until its release to find out. This report will take you behind the scenes and into the goings on of a film set. Will everything run on time? What will the catering provide? Will the crew bow to the actors demands? These were just some of the questions I was not worried about as I knew I was working with a great professional cast, with the determination and skill to create a great piece of work.

This was not a case of simply pointing a camera at an actor, caught in the headlights (or light of the camera if you want to be pedantic). A full and professional cast and crew gathered in the surprisingly warm and sunny town of Doncaster to create a charming, well written and thoroughly entertaining 30 minute short film. I shall take you through the day and night on one of the sets. After much deliberation, I have decided to focus on one of the longest days we had on set. Once rehearsals were out of the way, we ventured forth – and back – from Arksey to Doncaster Town Centre.

Now, when I say a long day – I really mean it. This day started at 9am with fresh faces and a spring in the step. By 1am the next morning, despite growing coffee and energy drink consumption, the fresh faces started to gather bags and the spring developed into a motivational plod. However, this did not in any way detract from the determination of the cast and crew to complete an exhausting, yet very productive day. Two locations were covered on this day - the home of the director being one, Prego Coffee in Doncaster being the other. Luckily for us all, the distance between the two was relatively short. If it was not, I fear a quick kip in the convoy of cars may have been needed.

In my role as Script Supervisor, I was responsible for the continuity of the film as well as helping the actors with their lines when necessary during takes. As you can imagine, my concentration levels were tested as day turned to night, but I think I just about managed to stay on top of things with my trusty digital camera in hand. The role I had was quite important in the filming process, particularly when it comes to the edit. If one moment an actor is drinking from his left hand, then finishing his sip in his right, I would have a lot to answer for. The morning shoot was relatively straight forward. Two major scenes had to be done, with a lot of dialogue, different shots and a shirt stain that was the vain of my life. The set was fully dressed with no issues regarding missing or lack of props. The lighting was well suited to the time of day and added extra atmosphere to the location, a trait that was constant throughout the shoot. Only two issues occurred during the first half of the day – batteries for the sound and how many people there were for lunch. Morale was high, the cast were doing a fine job and the crew - led by the Director - were producing some cracking shots.

All in all, the morning shoot was a success. Now the afternoon came, with more cast arriving and more complicated shots to get, this was certainly going to be the most challenging part of the day so far – and so it proved. On a personal level, only one word can sum up the afternoon shoot, and that word is ‘cigar’. If I ever get a contract for a feature film, the first clause will state, ‘I will have no responsibility for the decreasing length of any cigar or cigarette throughout the process of filming’. Wow, that was hard work making sure the smoking of the cigar looked consistent enough. That may sound boring to the uneducated, but let me tell you, it was hard work. After two cigars were smoked I think we got there. That, and the bite marks in a piece of toast were the two main issues for myself but there were other, more complicated and creative dilemmas for the Director and Director of Photography. Tracking shots, hand-held and still shots were all used to good effect. With the performances also being of a high standard including numerous takes of the physical variety, we went into our dinner break with optimism and no fear of the late night awaiting us.

After a great Northern dish of mince, potatoes and Yorkshire Pudding kindly provided by the Director’s parents, we collected the kit once more and headed to the café. After somewhat luckily arriving at the destination without getting lost, we proceeded to set up for the opening shot while make-up was being prepared and copious amounts of coffee were being ordered. I went for the Latte. I had the South’s reputation to uphold. As the night drew in outside we were left some minor issues. Firstly, and most annoyingly there was the reflection of the camera and lights in the window. However this was surprisingly easy to work around and we were soon on our way. The other issues were for me mainly as Script Supervisor. I had to make sure all the cups used were in the right place consistently and also make sure that the extras (of which I was one) in the background were sat in the same places. The main shot of the evening focused around the two main protagonists talking at a table over coffee. ‘That sounds easy enough’ I hear you cry. Well it was not. We had reverse shots, tracking shots, establishing shots and lots of dialogue to get through and the night was determined to win us over. Before we knew it, it was midnight and it looked like the night would have his day…Would the weary eyes surcome to the lures of sleep and put us behind schedule? Would we have to give in to time itself and allow the forgiving café owner to go home?

Not a bit of it. We persevered and worked our socks off to be done only half an hour over our expected finishing time. We did not rush and the footage later showed that. We had won the day and everyone left for their beds knowing in their mind that we were on to something here. Everyone had a good 3 to 4 hours sleep and we were back at it again the next morning, with expectations and enthusiasm high.

This was just a small and brief insight to what went on during my fantastic week of filming. I would like to take this opportunity to again thank all the cast and crew for their hospitality, kindness, professionalism and determination in creating what will certainly be a successful piece of work.

You have not heard the end of CottonMouth.

William Evans

CottonMouth (Dir. Cal Johnson) is currently in Post-Production.

For more information, go to - https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cottonmouth-Fan-Page/215610648463519

Some of us 'Arcaders' went to see X-Men: First Class last night, and we all agreed, it was certainly a treat.

Starting off showing a young Magneto showcasing his powers in a Nazi concentration camp the film quickly develops and hops from location to location and character to character. This might not be a style for everyone, but it kept us interested and kept us wanting to know more. 

Kevin Bacon plays his role fantastically as the leader of the notorious Hellfire Club (a group of mutants who want to take over the world). But the star of the show for us was certainly James McAvoy as a young Professor X. McAvoy used his usual charm and wit to showcase who the young Charles was a bit of a boy wonder. Gaining his professorship from Oxford University all the while using his intellect as a rouse to get women. Played to perfection, Professor X and James McAvoy truly stole the show.

The entire cast put in a great performance and must be congratulated, backed up by a strong script and meaningful characters who seem to gain an affinity with the audience. You care about these characters, want to know them, want them to 'win!' so to speak. Unlike with the previous X-Men movies which lacked a certain level of depth, 'First Class' gives everything. Humour, drama, action, love, heroes, villains and a nice ending to leave us wanting more!

There are clear moral issues as with any movie like this and as has been bounced around a lot in reviews of this movie recently, you can draw similarities between the characters of Prof. X & Magneto and Dr. Martin Luther King & Malcolm X. Both essentially on the same side but have completely different ways of achieving their goals! But this morality pulls you deeper into the movie and the characters and will leave you debating for hours after... Which side would you choose? 

All in all, great movie! And we can't wait for the next instalment. Bring on X-Men: First Class 2 (? X-Men: Second Class?)

Apple made their big announcement yesterday... The one we'd all been waiting for the announcement about the brand new.... iCloud? If like me you were expecting a brand new iPhone5 (I imagined it looking something a little like what you see to the right... Yes, right there) you may be disappointed but all is not lost, Apple announced the launch of the iCloud. But what is it?

The basic idea is that now, there is no need to sync your iPod, iPad (2) or even your iPhone. Have you even been fed up just sitting at your computer waiting and waiting for your device to sync? Well, you won't anymore. The idea is that the iCloud holds all of your music, apps and everything else in some sort of mystical wireless portal. This then syncs wirelessly to your device and you don't have to do anything! Update your phone, it saves to your iTunes. Update your iTunes, it saves to your iPod... It's all very clever. It also cross syncs your devices, between iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac (or PC). So you have all of your stuff on everything! Smart stuff, eh? Obviously, check out the Apply website for more info, or you can watch the 'keynote' speach below.

Little Hell is the 3^rd studio album from Dallas Green, 30. Green performs under his alias City & Colour for this intriguing side project. City & Colour have developed from a solo side project to a fully fledged touring and studio band which is far removed from his Post-Hardcore roots of Alexisonfire. But you Alexis fans, don’t worry... They’re still around!

Little Hell follows a very successful second album, ‘Bring Me Your Love’, which spawned fan favourites such as ‘Body in a Box’ and ‘The Girl’. Many thought topping previous success would be beyond City & Colour but frankly, this new album is just another triumph. If ‘Bring Me Your Love’ brought Dallas to the masses, ‘Little Hell’ certainly cements his name in the mainstream. Proof of this can be seen by the fact he sold out his UK tour in 90 seconds flat.

For those who love the previous City & Colour albums, you may be surprised. This is not the solo acoustic style we’re quite used to hearing! Green has worked in some rocking guitar riffs and smooth harmonies although he does work us in gently...

Opening with the oh-so-lovely “We Found Each Other in the Dark”, we are treated to what has always drawn us to Dallas Green, his incredibly soulful voice. This is a song that just speaks perfection from start to finish. The mellow guitar chords coupled with a simple bass line makes this such an easy listen and certainly sets the bar high for the rest of the album.

The title track is very much in the same veign as the opener, soft opening guitar and soothing vocals. But Little Hell seems to delve that bit deeper the lyrics seem so real, with the opening line:

“What if I can't be all that you need me to be”

Something that everyone must have felt. This is a song that I can relate to, a song that people will relate to. You also get a taste of Dallas’ genius on the guitar with a short but sweet solo.

I was going to tell you all about the single, but I thought you should judge for yourself! So have a listen to the video (above).

The true highlight for me comes with the song “Weightless”. This song opens with just a few chords that let you know Mr. Green's heavier side has come out to play. As he has even said himself, this song is a 'rocker!'. Unlike other City & Colour songs, this is no longer carried by Dallas' vocals alone, the drums crash into the chorus along with some heavy chords that open up for a catchy bass line. About 2/3s of the way in Dallas again showcases his musical talent by again giving us a great guitar solo. This track may differ from previous songs (and even albums) but it certainly gives us so much more.

As we continue, we get a little more of everything that a City & Colour fan could want. Beautful acoustic songs for his cult followers and rocking riffs for those who are converted. 

Towards the end we get a live renditon of O'Sister that does nothing more than truly show us the strength of the mans vocals. This is an incredible album that delivers on all levels. If this is not yet in your collection, then you are certainly missing out.

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